Switch: for the new internet

handy piece of kit



I know alot of people wont have this problem but those of us who are: very technically minded; use advanced techniques; or just know many places that use unusual software; will know that there is no one browser that supports everything and that you have to use at least 4 browsers to get the most out of the experience, either that or just stick to sites that are made for your specific browser or (God forbid) ones that work generically across all browsers.

The problem with generic sites is that they are very standard and boring and often have to use heavy processing devices like American Standard Flash, Visual Java Emulations, Microsoft Silverlight or Multigrid Technologies just to achieve any unusual technical and/or visual aspects.

Heavy processing uses up the object instances within the browser's stack grid. This means that only a handful of websites that have a Flash program as content and two sets of interactive adverts can be open at any one time. As this is the standard way of doing things it is very likely that most major websites you visit will be using up these instances quick.

But tailor made constructs for each browser can maximize the efficiency without any heavy processing slowing down your processor and filling up your cache. The obvious problem however is that only 1 browser would support these websites.

This means that A, you would have to get each browser and B, you would have to switch between them all the time for each individual website you visit. The solution is very simple, make a piece of software that manages the browsers. Instead of having to switch between browsers all the time and copy-paste the address, you can have some kit that automatically opens the page in the right browser when you click the link. This is known as Application Switch Software and the leader in this movement is a product known as Switch.

Now unfortunately Switch is having a bit of trouble lately. You see, all the major brands Firefox, Chrome, etc. have agreed to letting this software automatically switch their browsers back and forth, but Internet Explorer is refusing to cooperate with Switch and, as a result, browsers built on IE's core like Opera and most third party browsers are unable to sign up as well.

As IE is still the world's primary browser, Switch will always be an optional extra instead of a necessary tool. The only reason I can guess is that Microsoft don't like the way that it would encourage users to use other browsers rather than the IE one.

You see, this is exactly the kind of monopoly that makes us hate you Microsoft. But all is not lost. A group of people formed their own company like thing called LightSwitch. It is an underground operation that mods the Switch software to make it capable of running Microsoft brands. It also has a whole bunch of other trinkets that Switch doesn't have and, by destructuring the code and writing it in a tailor made compiler, they have managed to shrink the filesize right down to a 15th of its original size, hence 'Light'Switch.

Now, no-one knows where to get it and there are many fakes out there but, if anyone can find it, please let me know.